Inter Milan on brink of Serie A title after win over Crotone

Eriksen and Hakimi on target for Conte's side in victory that also confirms relegation for opponents

Christian Eriksen, centre, celebrates after scoring the opening goal for Inter Milan in their 2-0 Serie A win against Crotone at the Ezio Scida Stadium on Saturday, May 1. AFP

Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte. AFP

Romelu Lukaku scores for Inter but the goal is disallowed for offside. EPA

Christian Eriksen scores for Inter. Getty

Achraf Hakimi celebrates his injury-time goal at Crotone. Reuters

Inter's Lautaro Martinez heads towards goal. Getty

Inter attacker Romelu Lukaku under pressure from Crotone's Vladimir Golinec. AP

Inter Milan's Christian Eriksen celebrates with Nicolo Barella after scoring their first goal. Reuters

Inter's Romelu Lukaku watches his header hit the post. Getty

Inter Milan's Achraf Hakimi scores their second goal. Reuters

Inter Milan's Christian Eriksen and Achraf Hakimi were on target in a 2-0 victory at Crotone on Saturday that moves the league leaders to within one point of securing the Serie A title and confirmed their hosts' relegation.

Inter are on 82 points, 14 clear of second-placed Atalanta, and need one point to guarantee a first league title since 2010 due to their superior head-to-head record over the Bergamo club.

However, they will be crowned champions on Sunday if Atalanta fail to win at Sassuolo.

Eriksen’s deflected effort four minutes after coming off the bench found the bottom corner in the 69th minute to make the breakthrough and Achraf Hakimi finished a counter-attack to double Inter's lead in stoppage time.

The goal condemned bottom side Crotone to relegation, as Serse Cosmi’s side have 18 points, 13 fewer than Cagliari in the safety zone in 17th place with four games remaining.

Inter were twice denied by the woodwork in the first half as Romelu Lukaku glanced a close-range header off the upright before a Lautaro Martinez shot struck the foot of the post.

Conte turned to his bench in the 65th minute to inject some life into his side's attack with a positive triple change, introducing Eriksen, winger Ivan Perisic and striker Alexis Sanchez.

The move immediately paid off as Lukaku laid a pass into the path of Eriksen four minutes later and the Dane’s powerful shot took a deflection on its way into the net.

Lukaku’s involvement made him the first player to score 20 or more goals and provide at least 10 assists in a single Serie A season since OPTA started collecting the data in 2004/05.

Perisic came close to extending the lead with a curling shot and the Croatian then set up Lukaku but the Belgian's effort was disallowed for offside.

Hakimi made sure of the points late on by sliding a neat finish under goalkeeper Alex Cordaz to complete a sweeping counter-attack as Inter moved closer to the title.